5 Apr 2012

chia-mel tarts

Get it? Caramel + chia seeds = chia-mel! I'm proud of the cleverness. Don't judge me.
Something else I'm proud of is the fact that these aren't primarily chocolate! However, I couldn't resist and put a little cacao in the crust.

They're super tasty, and super nutritious. Think of the healthiest, most delicious granola bar - this is like that in dessert form I guess. The crust is mostly almonds and prunes, while the center is pine nuts, chia seeds, dates, maple syrup and cinnamon. Oh... and I added a little peanut butter.

I actually used my caramel recipe, using chia seeds. But instead of almond butter and tahini, I used peanut butter =} And instead of Brazil nuts I used pine nuts. Equally as delicious. I had leftover filling so I ate it with a banana for breakfast - yom. I could also eat balls of the crust... it might even be better than the filling.

Either way, make these for a healthy snack and get your dose of EFA's, fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, plus a bunch of other goodies.

Chia Caramel Tarts: makes about 3, if you can resist eating the ingredients while you're making it

Crust:

Handful each of walnuts, almonds & coconut chunks

1/3 cup prunes and/or dates

1 Tb agave/maple syrup

Dash of salt, cinnamon

1 heaping Tb cacao

Filling:

Handful Brazil nuts

2-3 Tb raw agave/maple syrup

1 t vanilla extract

7-10 dates, soaked for 30 minutes or so if you can - but don't dump the water!

3 Tb almond butter

2 Tb tahini

2-3 Tb coconut butter, melted

1/2 t cinnamon
Pinch salt

Water as needed (preferably the date water)

1/6 cup or so coconut flakes

2 Tb chia seeds gelled with water (see note)

Crust: pulse nuts, dates/prunes and coconut together until they become very fine pieces, stating to stick together. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until it forms a ball. Press into tart tins and set in the fridge while you make the filling.

Filling: process Brazil nuts into fine pieces, add all other ingredients EXCEPT
coconut flakes and chia seeds. Process until it has a caramel-y
consistency. You may need to add some water or more of the other
ingredients. Try it. Your mind should be exploding now. If not, continue
tampering until it reaches the mind-blowing stage.

NOTE: Now if ya want, add the coconut flakes and gelled chia. This
basically just dilutes the sweetness and gives you more. I did this to
make the filling of the b-day tart. It's up to you, depending on what
you're gonna use it for. Personally, I could just eat it all
straight-up.